Heritage Kitchener

Committee Minutes

Tuesday, February 03, 2026 at 4:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

City of Kitchener

200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7

Present:

• J. Haalboom, Chair
• Councillor D. Chapman, Member
• P. Ciuciura, Member
• N. Pikulski, Vice Chair
• L. Wilson, Member
• G. Eveleigh, Member
• M. Milosz, Member
• P. Arens, Member

Staff:

• G. Stevenson, Manager, Development Review
• M. Drake, Senior Heritage Planner
• V. Grohn, Heritage Planner
• M. Blake, Committee Administrator

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1.

Commencement

The Heritage Kitchener Committee held a meeting this date commencing at 4:00 p.m.

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

None.

3.

Discussion Items

3.1

Draft Heritage Impact Assessment - 63 Courtland Avenue East, DSD-2026-004

The Committee considered the Development Services Department report DSD-2026-004, dated January 12, 2026, regarding the Draft Heritage Impact Assessment for the property municipally addressed as 63 Courtland Avenue East.

M. Drake, Senior Heritage Planner, provided an overview of the staff report. V. Grohn, Heritage Planner, and G. Stevenson, Director, Housing and Development Approvals, were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. It was noted staff are seeking feedback from the Committee regarding this matter. 

V. Hicks and A. Sinclair, MHBC Planning were in attendance in support of the HIA. 

V. Grohn confirmed primary vehicular access will be on Courtland Avenue, with no main entrance proposed on Martin Street.

V. Hicks and A. Sinclair advised that the neighbourhood group has been kept informed, no variance applications have been submitted, and site plan work is ongoing. Partial demolition is expected to be requested around March due to contamination beneath the portion of the building proposed for removal.

Committee members expressed that the revised design shows improvement, particularly regarding scale and the interface with the heritage building. Questions were raised about the painted brick and reinstated window openings. The applicant indicated that paint removal will be tested and undertaken where feasible, with repainting as a contingency. Stone sills will be retained, and reconstructed openings will be made cohesive with the existing building, to be detailed in the Conservation Plan.

The applicant confirmed there is no anticipated risk to the retained portions of the building and that contamination will be mitigated with appropriate protective measures during construction. Opportunities for historical signage and commemoration will be incorporated through the Conservation and Commemoration Plan.

The Committee expressed that the submission reflects improvements over previous iterations.

3.2

Heritage Permit Application, HPA-2026-V-001 - 41 Michael Street, DSD-2026-021

The Committee considered the Development Services Department report DSD-2026-021, dated December 23, 2025, recommending that pursuant to Section 42 of the Ontario Heritage Act, Heritage Permit Application HPA-2026-V-001 to permit the demolition of a detached garage and the construction of a detached garage at the property municipally addressed as 41 Michael Street be approved, in accordance with the supplementary information submitted with this application and subject to the following condition: that the final building permit drawings be reviewed and heritage clearance provided by Heritage Planning staff prior to the issuance of a building permit. 

V. Grohn, Heritage Planner, provided an overview of the staff report. M. Drake, Senior Heritage Planner, and G. Stevenson, Director, Housing and Development Approvals, were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. 

Clarification was requested regarding a discrepancy between the shingle colour noted in the report and that shown on the renderings. 

It was noted any recommendation arising from this matter would proceed to Council on March 2, 2026. 

Moved by L. Wilson

• it was resolved:

  "That pursuant to Section 42 of the Ontario Heritage Act, Heritage Permit Application HPA-2026-V-001 to permit the demolition of a detached garage and the construction of a detached garage at the property municipally addressed as 41 Michael Street be approved, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-021, in accordance with the supplementary information submitted with this application and subject to the following condition:

  1. 1. That final building permit drawings be reviewed and heritage clearance provided by Heritage Planning staff prior to the issuance of a building permit."
  Carried

3.3

Notice of Intention to Designate - 1254 Union Street, DSD-2026-046

The Committee considered the Development Services Department report DSD-2026-046 dated January 12, 2026, recommending that pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to publish a Notice of Intention to Designate the property municipally addressed as 1254 Union Street as being of cultural heritage value or interest.

V. Grohn, Heritage Planner, advised that staff are requesting the item be referred to the March Heritage Kitchener Committee meeting to allow additional time for consultation between Heritage Planning staff and the property owner.

G. Eveleigh brought forward a motion that the staff recommendation be referred to the March 3, 2026, Heritage Kitchener meeting to allow additional time for consultation between Heritage Planning staff and the property owner.

The motion was then voted on and Carried.

Moved by G. Eveleigh 

• It was resolved:

  That the staff recommendation be referred to the March 3, 2026 Heritage Kitchener meeting to allow additional time for consultation between Heritage Planning staff and the property owner:

  "That pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to publish a Notice of Intention to Designate the property municipally addressed as 1254 Union Street as being of cultural heritage value or interest."

  Carried

3.4

Municipal Heritage Register Review Update - February 2026, DSD-2026-044

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2026-044, dated January 12, 2026, recommending that pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the cultural heritage value or interest be recognised, and designation be pursued for the following properties: 20 Lindon Avenue, and 305 King Street West.

M. Drake, Senior Heritage Planner, provided an overview of the staff report. G. Stevenson, Director, Housing and Development Approvals, was also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. 

It was noted any recommendation arising from this matter would proceed to Council on March 2, 2026. 

Moved by L. Wilson

• it was resolved:

  "That pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the cultural heritage value or interest be recognized, and designation be pursued for the following properties, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-044:

  • • 20 Linden Avenue
    • 305 King Street West"
  Carried

4.

Information Items

4.1

Heritage Permit Applications Tracking Sheet

5.

Adjournment

On motion, this meeting adjourned at approximately 5:15 p.m.

Mariah Blake
Committee Coordinator